Safety cutout for automotive engines



Feb. 15, 1949. J. J. MALIR, JR 2.461,692

SAFETY GUTOUT FOR AUTOMOTIVE ENGINES Filed April 22, 1.946

WSWS

Patented Feb. 15, 1949 SAFETY' CUTGU -T ENG FOR. AUTOMOTIVE INES IJoseph J. Malir, 5r., Denver, Colo.

ppIcationIApril/BZ, 1946, SerialNo. 663,902' 2 claims.. (c1. 20c-81.5)

This vinvention relates to an automatic electric switch for automobilesand has. iorv itsprincipel. object the-provision of amechanism whichwill!` shut oi' the: entire electrical.v supply to.` the automobile-.andits eng-inerin caseof motor failure-.or other accidentali cause; whichAwillY automatically stop the` motor when the. latter runs out: ofy oiland prevent operation. ofthe motor without oil; which. will acti as a.theft-lock to. prevent unauthorized: startingl of. the motor; and whichwill prevent.. accidental drainingl of the battery by the-lights, radio,heater, ignition, etc., when thefcar isnot, in use..

Other objects andf advantages. reside in the detail: construction oftheinvention, which is designed for simplicity, economy, andf eiciency.Thesewill become.- more apparent from.. the iollowing. description.

In: the follow-ing detailed ydescription of the invention. reference,vis had? to-y theaccompany-Y ing drawing which forms apart hereof. Likenumerals refer to like-` parts; in: all views ot thel drawingv and.throughoutl the description.

In the-drawing:

Fig. 1r is ai side view: of; the improved safety deviceffor automotiveengines; illustrating: it iny place: onthe instr-umentypanelf. of.' auf.automobile;`

Fig.;2 is: a Alongitudinal sectionf therethrough;`

Fig. 3isaxrv enlarged.- detail sectional` view oiV f theV4 piston rodAassembly ofthe improved safety device; and

Fig. 4= is4 a; cross-section tak en on the line 4 4, Fig. 2.

The inventioncompri'ses a cylindrical housing :if-

' shoulder I5, against which a circular cylinder head I6 is clamped bythe cylinder I4 and the action of the threads II.

The other or closed extremity of the cylinder I4 contains a threadednipple socket I8 for receiving a pipe or tubing nipple I9 by means ofwhich the cylinder is placed in communication with the oil pressuresystem of the automobile engine through an oil pipe 20. The cylinder I4contains a piston 2| which is; longitudinally slidable therein. Avpiston rod 22 extends from the piston 2| through the cylinder head' i6.and throughout the length of the housing IQ., A piston spring 23surrounds the rod 22 between the piston head I6 and the piston. 2I toconstantly urge the piston toward the nipple opening.

A rst annular contact disc 24 and a second annular contact disc 25aretiltably and slidably mountedA on the rod 22.. BothA discs aresupported in a similar manner. Each is surrounded by suitable electricalinsulation 26 and clamped against stiiiening washers 2'I between ilangeson a iianged spool 23 which is loosely mounted on the rod 22.

A first contact spring 29 surrounds the rod 22 between the cylinder headI6 and the second spool 28 of the second contact disc 25 to constantlyurge the latter against a collar Bil formed on the rod 22 intermediatethe two discs. A second Contact spring 3I surrounds the rod 22 betweenthe collar 30 and the rst spool 28 of the rst contact disc 24 tomaintain the two spools 28 separated.

A, hollow, thimble-like button member 32 eX- tends through thelatter endof the housing I0 and through the nipple I I soY as to projecttherefrom. The button member 32 slidably receives the end of the rod 22.and is provided with a ange 33 which prevents it from being forcedthrough the end of the housing.

Two contact. plates 34 and 35 are mounted in the housing, one on eachside thereof, between the contact discs 24 and 25. The plates 34 and 35arev secured in place by means of suitable binding screws 38, upon whichterminal nuts 3S are threaded. The plates 34 and 35, the screws 38, andthe nuts 3S are electrically insulated from the housing I0 by means ofsuitable insulationA 3'I.. The plates 34 and` 35 project into thehousing suiiciently far to be simultaneously contacted by either of thediscs 24 and 25 when the latter are moved against them. The bindingscrews 38 are connected in series, with the electrical supply mains ofthe automobile indicated at 38 (exclusive oi the starter circuit).

In use, the operator of the automobile closes his ignition switch andhis starter switch. He then presses the button member 32 inwardly. Thisforces the first spool 28 and the contact disc 24 inwardly, compressingthe spring 3l, until the first contact disc 24 contacts the plates 34and 35 and closes the ignition circuit of the engine. When the enginestarts, oil pressure is developed therein which acts against the piston2l to force the rod 22 outwardly, compressing the springs 23 and 3|.This moves the collar SilA away from the spool 28 of the disc 25,allowing the spring 29 to expand to force the second spool 28 outwardlyto carry the second contact disc 25 against the contact plates 34 and35, after which the button 32 may be released, since the igntion circuitis closed by the disc 25.

It will be noted that the rod 22 may continue to move through the secondspool 28 carrying the disc 25, compressing the springs 23 and 3|,without further movement of the disc 25. It will also be noted that thepiston 2i can make a considerable return movement before the collar 3l!contacts the second spool 28 to carry the disc 25 inwardly to break thecircuit. Therefore, only the initial pressure increase and iinalpressure decrease operate the device. Intermediate variations have noeffect on the opening and closing of the circuit. A vent hole 4i) isformed in the housing to relieve any pressure on the back of the piston2l and to drain away any oil which might accidentally leak past thepiston.

The spring 23 is preferably such that a pressure of 5 lbs. per squareinch will move the piston 2l suiiciently to close the contact. Thespring 29 is, ofcourse, a lighter spring to enable it to be compressedby the spring 23. t' will be noted that the loose t of the spools 28 onthe rod 22 allows the discs 24 and 25 to freely tilt to accommodate anyunevenness in the positions of the plates 34 and 35.

It can be readily seen that the device serves many useful functions. Asabove described, failure of oil will stop the engine. Another functionAis that it prevents the driver from accidentally leaving his lights,radio, heater, or other electrical devices on, when he leaves the car,thereby draining the battery. As soon as he stops the engine, all ofthese devices will be automatically cut out of circuit. It also acts asa theft lock, as an ordinary automobile thief is unaware that it isnecessary to operate the button 32 before the engine can be used.

While a specific form of the improvement has been described andillustrated herein, itis desired to be understood that the same may bevaried, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing fromthe spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what isl claimed and desiredsecured by Letters Patent is:

l. A device for cutting off the electrical suppl?.r to an automotiveengine upon failure of the oil pressure to said engine comprising: acup-like housing; a hollow threaded nipple projecting from the closedend of said housing and adapted to be passed through a supportingstructure; a nut 'on said nipple clamping said housing to saidstructure; an open ended pressure cylinder, the open ends of saidhousing and said cylinder being secured together in axial alignment;acylinder head separating said cylinder from said housing; means forintroducing oil under pressure through the closed end of said cylinder;a piston in said cylinder a piston rod extending from said pistonthrough said cylinder head and throughout the length of said housing; arst spring positioned between said piston and said cylinder headresisting inward movement of said piston; contact plates extendinginwardly from opposite sides ci said housing; a iirst contact discinsulated from and slidably mounted on said rod and adapted to close acircuit between said plates; a second spring compressed between saiddisc and said cylinder head and urging said disc outward toward saidplates; a collar formed on said rod and normally preventing outwardmovement of said disc until pressure in said cylinder has moved said rodoutward to remove said collar from the path of said disc.

2. A device for cutting 01T the electrical supply to an automotiveengine upon failure of the oil pressure to said engine comprising: acup-like housing; a hollow threaded nipple projecting from the closedend of said housing and adapted to be passed through a supportingstructure; a nut on said nipple clamping said housing to said structure;an open ended pressure cylinder, the open ends of said housing and saidcylinder being secured together in axial alignment; a cylinder headseparating said cylinder from said housing; means for introducing oilunder pressure through the closed end of said cylinder; a piston in saidcylinder; a piston rod extending from said piston through said cylinderhead and throughout the length of said housing; a first springpositioned between said piston and said cylinder head resisting inwardmovement of said piston; contact plates extending inwardly from oppositesides of said housing; a first contact disc insulated from and slidablymounted on said rod and adapted to close a circuit between said plates;a second spring compressed between said disc and said cylinder head andurging said disc outward toward said plates; a collar formed on said rodand normally preventing outward movement of said disc until pressure insaid cylinder has moved said rod outward to remove said collar from thepath of said disc; a second contact disc insulated vfrom and slidablymounted on said rod on the outside of said contact plate; a third springsurrounding said discs separated; and a thimble-like manually actuatedbutton enclosing the extremity of said rod and, projecting through saidnipple to enable the second disc to be forced into contact with saidplates.

JOSEPH J. MALIR, Jn.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are oi record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,061,078- Lacoe Nov. 17, 19362,251,648 Wayman Aug. 5, 194i 2,402,284 Huiord June 18, 1946

